Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment
Canadian climate policy calling for a transition to renewable energy is not only a response to the increasing frequency and liability of climate-related disasters, but also a strategic move to mitigate fossil-fuel economic volatility. The easiest path to transition is using the lowest-cost source of...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | e-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772671125001081 |
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| author | Shafquat Rana JoshuaM. Pearce |
| author_facet | Shafquat Rana JoshuaM. Pearce |
| author_sort | Shafquat Rana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Canadian climate policy calling for a transition to renewable energy is not only a response to the increasing frequency and liability of climate-related disasters, but also a strategic move to mitigate fossil-fuel economic volatility. The easiest path to transition is using the lowest-cost source of energy, which is solar photovoltaics (PV). This study brings clarity to Canada’s efforts to achieve the net zero target quantifying growth rates of PV system development required to reach net zero. First, Canada’s net energy goal background and the recent solar PV-specific growth, markets, and policies are reviewed. Next, the methodology for achieving Canada’s climate goal with PV deployment is detailed. The results indicate to meet carbon emissions targets in 2030 (40 % and 45 % below 2005) and be net-zero by 2050 requires 666, 762, and 1847 GW of PV, respectively. The latter solar PV required increases to 2019 GW with the expected 7.5 % escalation in primary energy. The 2023 total PV capacity installed in Canada is 4.6 GW and the rate of growth is completely inadequate to achieve Canada’s goals. This study presents different approaches to achieve Canada’s emissions goals using PV and details deployment in terms of energy, investment, and employment pointing towards the need of new policies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e02ebb88369f46debaf0f72137101948 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2772-6711 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | e-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy |
| spelling | doaj-art-e02ebb88369f46debaf0f721371019482025-08-20T03:21:19ZengElseviere-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy2772-67112025-06-011210100110.1016/j.prime.2025.101001Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deploymentShafquat Rana0JoshuaM. Pearce1Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada; Ivey Business School, Western University, London, ON N6G 0N1, Canada; Cotrresponding author.Canadian climate policy calling for a transition to renewable energy is not only a response to the increasing frequency and liability of climate-related disasters, but also a strategic move to mitigate fossil-fuel economic volatility. The easiest path to transition is using the lowest-cost source of energy, which is solar photovoltaics (PV). This study brings clarity to Canada’s efforts to achieve the net zero target quantifying growth rates of PV system development required to reach net zero. First, Canada’s net energy goal background and the recent solar PV-specific growth, markets, and policies are reviewed. Next, the methodology for achieving Canada’s climate goal with PV deployment is detailed. The results indicate to meet carbon emissions targets in 2030 (40 % and 45 % below 2005) and be net-zero by 2050 requires 666, 762, and 1847 GW of PV, respectively. The latter solar PV required increases to 2019 GW with the expected 7.5 % escalation in primary energy. The 2023 total PV capacity installed in Canada is 4.6 GW and the rate of growth is completely inadequate to achieve Canada’s goals. This study presents different approaches to achieve Canada’s emissions goals using PV and details deployment in terms of energy, investment, and employment pointing towards the need of new policies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772671125001081Energy policySolar photovoltaicCanadaClimate change policyNet zero carbon emissions |
| spellingShingle | Shafquat Rana JoshuaM. Pearce Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment e-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy Energy policy Solar photovoltaic Canada Climate change policy Net zero carbon emissions |
| title | Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment |
| title_full | Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment |
| title_fullStr | Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment |
| title_short | Potential paths to Canada's climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment |
| title_sort | potential paths to canada s climate commitments through strategic solar photovoltaic deployment |
| topic | Energy policy Solar photovoltaic Canada Climate change policy Net zero carbon emissions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772671125001081 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shafquatrana potentialpathstocanadasclimatecommitmentsthroughstrategicsolarphotovoltaicdeployment AT joshuampearce potentialpathstocanadasclimatecommitmentsthroughstrategicsolarphotovoltaicdeployment |